Brass Bands England has announced details of the 2016 National Youth Championships of Great Britain, which the organisation will host at the Royal Northern College of Music Manchester, on Sunday 17th April.

Focus

Brass Bands England Chairman, Mike Kilroy told 4BR: "The focus for Brass Bands England is to support and promote brass bands at every level. It is critical for the future of our brass band community that we continue to support and encourage youth development as a priority.

The 2016 Championships are therefore a great opportunity not only to encourage excellence through competition but also to promote and showcase some of the brightest stars of the future from up to 50 youth bands from around the UK."

European qualification

There is also an added dimension to the event with European qualification on offer to winning bands.

2015 Championship Section winners Youth Brass 2000 will represent England in the Premier Section at the 2016 European Youth Championship in Lille in May next year, whilst reigning European Youth Champion Wardle Academy (above) has also been invited to defend its title.

This has allowed Elland Silver Youth, the runner up in the 2015 National Youth Brass Band Championships Intermediate Section to also represent England at the event.

Set works

The set-works for the 2016 National Youth Championships of Great Britain have also been revealed, with, 'The Mansions of Glory' by young composer Jonathan Bates, providing the test for the Championship contenders.

It was given was given its world premiere by the Amsterdam Staff Band at a concert to celebrate the world's oldest Salvation Army band, Consett Corps, in May 2014.

Meanwhile, the intriguingly named 'Funk Engine' will provide the test piece for the Intermediate Section.

Commissioned especially for the event by Brass Bands England, it is written Ryan Howells, the 2014 Ty Cerdd Young Composer of the Year.

The 2016 Championships are a great opportunity not only to encourage excellence through competition but also to promote and showcase some of the brightest stars of the future from up to 50 youth bands from around the UKBBE

Entries

Entries are now open, with a closing date of 29th February 2016.

Entry forms and all relevant information are now available on the Brass Bands England website.

http://www.brassbandsengland.co.uk/what-we-do/youth-championships/